diff --git a/res/css/views/messages/_MessageActionBar.scss b/res/css/views/messages/_MessageActionBar.scss
index 75318757a7..e270a8512f 100644
--- a/res/css/views/messages/_MessageActionBar.scss
+++ b/res/css/views/messages/_MessageActionBar.scss
@@ -28,8 +28,9 @@ limitations under the License.
     top: -32px;
     right: 8px;
     user-select: none;
-    // Ensure the action bar appears above over things, like the read marker.
-    z-index: 1;
+    // Ensure the action bar appears above other things like the read marker
+    // and sender avatar (for small screens)
+    z-index: 10;
 
     // Adds a previous event safe area so that you can't accidentally hover the
     // previous event while trying to mouse into the action bar or from the